Oct. 31: Carlos Lee or Alfonso Soriano?

The Mets are going to need a left fielder, but who? Aside from cornering the market on Carloses, there’s a lot to be said for targeting Texas left fielder Carlos Lee in the free-agent market.

The name in vogue is Alfonso Soriano, but Lee, 30, is at an age where he’s entering his prime years. Last season was a good one with a .300 average, and career-highs in homers (37) and RBI (116) with Milwaukee and the Rangers. That he played in 161 games shows durability.

He is a lifetime .286 hitter, which denotes reliability, and with 221 homers and 782 career RBI in eight years, his production isn’t a fluke. Right now, wouldn’t you take him in left over Endy Chavez or Lastings Milledge?

By contrast, Soriano, also 30, hit 46 homers and drove in 95 runs and stole 41 bases. Soriano is the more prolific slugger, but he struck out 160 times last year compared to Lee’s 65.

Soriano made $10 million last season; Lee earned $8.5 million. Reportedly, Soriano has already rejected a $70 million package.

My thinking is if the Mets got Lee, they could fill left field for a little less money, and use their savings and Milledge to go after pitching.

6 Comments

JoeC

Interesting comparison. I have to admit, I’m really high on Soriano. I thought his years in Texas, playing in the American League’s Coors Field, was masking the collapse many had predicted since he was exposed in the ‘03 ALCS and WS. But going to the Nats and hitting 46 bombs (24 at home) really put the kabosh on that theory. The guy’s a stud. And he can play/butcher second base or LF – two holes the Mets need filling. Not that he can play both positions at once (he can barely play one) but it gives the Mets a little flexability. What’s more, he’s already NY proven. Lee is interesting too. He flies under the radar and will probably cost less, but he’s a solid hitter also, and makes way more contact than Soriano. However, even though he Ks much less than Soriano, Lee really doesn’t have all that much better OBP. If we’re not talking about a two hole hitter-type, who’s asked to move runners along etc…, does it really matter HOW they make their outs? If the choice is Soriano and Lee, I think you gotta go Soriano. If the choice is, due to cost concerns, Soriano alone or Lee and stud starting pitcher free agent/tradee X, I think you have to go Lee/Stud starter X. Me? I’m greedy. I’d like Soriano for second base, Lee in left field, and Zito and Schmidt please. To go. Thanks.

I’d rather keep Chavez – one of the best defensive outfielders in the league and a decent bat – and spend the big bucks getting a 2B (I have a bad feeling that Valentin will be a one-year wonder) and a couple of starters.

I like Jermaine Dye over any free agents mentioned. Mainly because of defense. Lets not talk about parting too fast with Lastings Milledge. The Mets didn’t make the World Series because of spotty defense in right field. I think that a trade for Jermaine Dye and putting Lastings Milledge in left field would help the Mets defensively and offensively. Jemaine is a bargain at $6.75 million this year and could easily be kept when Shawn Green comes off the books. Starting pitching is not as much of a glaring need because there is a dearth of starting pitching in MLB. The Mets can afford to go with John Maine, Oliver Perez, Dave Williams, Tom Glavine and Brian Bannister. Remember the Yankees spent a lot of money on pitching and where did it get them? Just like Willie Randolph said see what you have first before you pick up someone else’s junk.

Dye is a AL MVP candidate. He’ll come at a higher price than $6.75 million. And, Green has another year on his contract with the Mets.

You’re right about there being a lack of starting pitching in MLB, but are you saying the Mets don’t need to worry because everybody else stinks? I can’t buy that. Also, there’s no guarantee the five you mentioned will pan out. Glavine is the closest to a sure thing in the group, but he’s still going to be 41 next year. To think bringing just him back is a cure all would be a mistake.